#Athletic #Apparel Companies Win As Consumers become
more Attuned to Self-Care - (OTCQB: $GFTX) (OTC: $DKGR), (NYSE: $NKE), (NYSE:
$UA) (NYSE: $UAA)
Point Roberts, WA and Delta, BC - August 23, 2019
(Investorideas.com Newswire) Investorideas.com, a leading investor news
resource covering sports and retail stocks releases a sector snapshot reporting
on the uptrend of athletic and collectible apparel with the rise of social
media. This has given fans the ability to become more connected and involved with
the athletes and brands they support as well as building consumer health and
fitness awareness.
A recent
news article discussed athletic apparel stocks
reporting, "Athleisure has been the biggest trend in retail over the past
several years, helping put athletic apparel stocks on a fast track to big-time
gains. The rise of the internet, social media and photo-sharing apps created an
unprecedented surge in consumer self-awareness regarding image, health and
fitness. As consumers become more attuned to self-care, they simultaneously
lead more active, healthy lifestyles ... or at least give off the appearance
that they are doing so through Instagram posts. This has likewise led to a
surge in athleisure clothing sales, since that is the apparel that best fits
this lifestyle."
The
article continued, “This isn’t a short-term trend — it’s secular. Consumers are
only becoming more connected, and they are consequently becoming more
self-aware. Thus, the underlying consumer desire to become healthier and more
active will continue to grow. Consumer demand for athleisure clothing will
likewise continue to grow over the next several years.”
Following
this trend, Authentic Heroes Inc., an innovator of collectible apparel and
subsidiary of Global Fiber Technologies
Inc. (OTCQB:
GFTX)
just reported news that they are expecting a vibrant Q4 for 2019 and continuing
into 2020.
Read this in full at
The company recently announced a new partnership with
IMG and its Football Greats Alliance (FGA), an organization dedicated to
preserving the legacy of retired NFL athletes. The national partnership will
introduce sports fans to a new line of Football Greats collectible apparel that
will feature inspirational quotes from former players along with high-quality
images, likenesses and historical authentication of game-worn jerseys.
Chris
H. Giordano, President and Chairman of Global Fiber Technologies said today: “The second half of 2019 is shaping up to be
a watershed year for Global Fiber Technologies Inc. and
its subsidiary Authentic Heroes. As we mentioned in our last press release, we signed a licensing agreement with IMG/FGA to
produce authenticated limited edition “fanwear” utilizing our proprietary
manufacturing process and authentication technology.”
“Making these
highly unique fanwear jerseys in conjunction with our partnership with
IMG/Football Greats Alliance is a trigger event for Authentic Heroes Inc.
IMG/FGA is an iconic organization and we hope to culture a very fruitful and
long-term relationship with them and the clients they represent.”
“In addition to
retired football greats we also expect to work with athletes and icons across
the entire spectrum of sports from football, baseball, basketball and hockey to
soccer, racing, tennis and golf.”
“Even beyond sports
the opportunities are both boundless and economically prodigious.
Areas such as
musical touring bands as well as cultural icons both alive and deceased
represent an enormous opportunity for us since the affinity base for such
people stretch across the globe as opposed to just the US.”
“One of our goals
is to bring “affordability” to the collectible clothing enthusiast and we will
accomplish that here in 2019 and beyond. We feel our unique offering of
collectables will maximize the “value proposition” for both icon and fan. In
doing so we will make our mark in the collectable clothing business,” Mr. Giordano stated.
Paul
Serbiak CEO of Global stated in today’s news: “Being able to take an “event worn” garment and “democratizing” the
market for wearable collectables utilizing our technology while giving back a
percentage of sales to a charitable cause is what Authentic Heroes is all
about.
The fan is buying a
“piece of history” for a fraction of the price that one would pay for the
original garment on a large auction site like Heritage Auctions.”
“For athletes and
artists alike, we provide a platform for them to receive a substantially
greater financial reward for the same garment they would have auctioned just
the one time for a single price.”
“At the same time
we are providing the “rocket fuel” for their personal brand that will create a
more “bonded” connection between icons and their fans. We fully expect to start
to make our mark in the industry in 2019 with our ultimate goal of owing true
market share with the 66 million people that comprise the sports memorabilia
collectors universe as well as creating the marketplace for collectables in
other “virgin” industries like music, world leaders, fallen heroes and beyond.
Memorializing greatness is what we do best.”
Nike
Inc.
(NYSE:
NKE),
one of the leaders in athletic apparel, reported their financial
results for its fiscal 2019 fourth quarter and full year ended May 31, 2019
earlier in the summer, with fourth quarter revenues increasing to $10.2
billion, up 4 percent on a reported basis and up 10 percent on a
currency-neutral basis. Full year revenue rose to $39.1 billion, up 7 percent
on a reported basis and up 11 percent on a currency-neutral basis, as strategic
investments in innovation and digital drove global consumer demand led by NIKE
Direct in both periods.
“FY19
was a pivotal year for NIKE as we continue to bring our Consumer Direct Offense
to life throughout the marketplace,” said Mark Parker, Chairman, President and
CEO, NIKE, Inc. “Our distinctive innovation and digital advantage led to
accelerated growth across our complete portfolio, while our Brand fueled deeper
relationships with consumers around the globe.”
Diluted
earnings per share in the fourth quarter was $0.62 driven by revenue growth,
strong gross margin expansion, and a lower average share count, partially
offset by higher selling and administrative expense and a higher tax rate.
Diluted earnings per share for the full year was $2.49.
“Reflecting
on our FY19 performance, it is clear that growth is paramount at NIKE, and that
our strong growth is being driven by strategic transformation,” said Andy
Campion, Executive Vice President and CFO, NIKE, Inc. “Amid foreign exchange
volatility, our double-digit currency-neutral revenue growth and expanding ROIC
showcase NIKE’s unrivaled ability to create extraordinary value for consumers
and shareholders over the long term.”
Under Armour, Inc. (NYSE:
UA)
(NYSE:
UAA)
also
announced
their financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019.
"Our
second quarter results give us increasing conviction that our transformation
continues to make solid progress across our business, unlocking efficiencies
that are driving greater precision, consistency and repeatability," said
Under Armour Chairman and CEO Kevin Plank. "By staying sharply focused on
our long-term strategies – driving our premium athletic brand positioning
through industry leading innovation, geographic expansion and creating deep
connections with our consumers – we are on track to deliver against our
expectations in 2019."
Universal Apparel
& Textile Company
(OTC:
DKGR)
recently
announced
receiving a $300,000 order of cargo shorts and was also approached by a
wholesaler for 2020 spring and summer clothing. The cumulative value of these
orders will be in excess of $2.0 million. The production of the cargo shorts
will begin immediately, with the first delivery expected in February of 2020.
Mr. Mahabubul Kabir,
CEO of Universal Apparel states, “We are extremely excited about obtaining a
contract for the cargo shorts. I am negotiating ferociously to get the order
for the 2020 clothing collection and we are also in the process of negotiating
multi million contracts to supply t-shirts, long pants, hoodies and thermals
for several different, massive wholesalers. In addition, a new potential
wholesaler in Florida has been impressed by our products so that we are now
competing against several other manufacturers to supply hoodies for sale in
that immediate area. The contracts and purchase orders will hopefully be
finalized in a short period of time as our reputation precedes us. This will
keep our overseas factories at full capacity until the late summer of 2020.”
Universal Apparel also worked with athletic celebrities such as Ray Leonard Junior, the
son of five time World Boxing Champion and gold medalist, Sugar Ray Leonard, to
manufacture an apparel line for his world tour for the benefit of US troops.
The name of Ray Leonard's brand is
forthcoming and should be available by the fall of 2019.
Mr. Kabir stated, “It is a pleasure to
work alongside such talent as Ray Leonard. I am his father’s biggest fan and
now his due to his generosity and heart of gold.”
As we see more fan/consumer interaction
with athletes and athletic brands enabled by technological innovations, we can
expect that this increase in brand loyalty and awareness will only continue to
rise. Moving forward, the companies able to work with the right
athletes/celebrities who have the right exposure will gain the potential to tap
into a whole new type of brand loyalty.
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